The Arcanum

faction · importance 60 · 1 theory

“The University's inner body of ranked arcanists, where Kvothe rose youngest in memory”

also known as The Arcanum

Appearance§

As an institution the Arcanum has no single physical form; it is rendered through its setting and members. Scenes center on the masters' table, where the Chancellor presides over admissions and Elodin sits as the re-seated Master Namer, regarded warily as an uncontrollable threat. Members range from grizzled veterans like Manet, at least fifty with wild hair and a disheveled beard, to teenagers like Kvothe. The body is signified by titles and tokens rather than dress, notably the guilder that marks a full arcanist. The University's archives, workshops, and lecture halls form its backdrop.

Description§

The Arcanum is the University's body of arcanists and advanced students, organized into ascending ranks. Admission confers the title E'lir ('See-er') and requires demonstrating basic knowledge of sympathy; promotion to Re'lar ('Speaker') is tied to knowing a Name, as when Kvothe is raised after calling the name of the Wind and Fela after the name of Stone. A higher rank, El'the, completes the progression, and each rank is marked by a guilder, the token of a full arcanist. The masters' table, led by the Chancellor, governs admissions and discipline. Advancement is merit- and feat-based rather than time-served: Manet has been in the Arcanum longer than the others combined yet remains a lowly E'lir, while Kvothe is admitted exceptionally young, and Elodin holds every youth record, including youngest admitted, youngest arcanist, and youngest Chancellor, having held that office about five years before something happened to him. Of roughly a hundred students who leave the Arcanum each year, only about a quarter earn their guilders. The stresses of study cause most students' minds not to shatter but to 'crack a little,' producing tics, stutters, heard voices, forgetfulness, blindness, or muteness. Most arcanists know only a name or two, so reliably calling the name of the wind marks unusual skill.

Relationships§

• Admitted Kvothe — Kvothe admitted at an unusually young age and raised to Re'lar for the name of the Wind
• Part Of The University — the University's body of arcanists and advanced students
• Requires Naming — promotion to Re'lar tied to knowing a Name
• Record Holder Elodin — Elodin holds records as youngest admitted, arcanist, and Chancellor
• Requires Sympathy — admission requires demonstrating basic knowledge of sympathy
• Promoted Fela — Fela raised to Re'lar after calling the name of Stone
• Long Member Manet — Manet has been in the Arcanum longer than the others combined yet remains E'lir
• Governed By Master Herma — the masters' table governs the Arcanum with the Chancellor presiding
• Member Master Hemme — Chancellor silenced Hemme during Kvothe's admission

Established facts§

• The Arcanum is the body of arcanists and advanced students at the University, with ascending ranks E'lir ('See-er'), Re'lar ('Speaker'), and El'the, each marked by a guilder.
• Admission to the Arcanum and the title E'lir requires demonstrating basic knowledge of sympathy.
• Promotion to Re'lar is associated with knowing a Name: Kvothe is raised after calling the name of the Wind, and Fela after the name of Stone.
• Kvothe is admitted to the Arcanum at an unusually young age, drawing remarks about his tender years.
• Elodin holds the record as youngest ever admitted, youngest to make arcanist, and youngest to become Chancellor, having been Chancellor about five years before something happened to him.
• Long tenure does not guarantee advancement: Manet has been in the Arcanum longer than the others combined yet remains a lowly E'lir.
• Roughly a hundred students leave the Arcanum each year, only about a quarter of them with their guilders.
• The masters' table governs the Arcanum, with the Chancellor presiding (silencing Hemme during Kvothe's admission).
• The stresses of study cause most students' minds to 'crack a little,' producing tics, stuttering, heard voices, forgetfulness, blindness, or muteness.
• Most arcanists know only a name or two, so reliably calling the name of the wind marks unusual skill.

Theories§

• plausible El'the: The Lost Arcanum Rank for Those Who Can Give Names, Not Just Know Them pop 169

Appears in theories§

• plausible Master Lorren Lives Permanently in the Heart of Stone Emotional State pop 302
• fringe Abenthy Was a Retired Chemistry Master From the University pop 162
• fringe Abenthy Was an Amyr Sent to Investigate Arliden's Chandrian Research pop 155
• plausible Copper Disperses Arcane Energy, Making It a Cage for Namers and Sympathists pop 153
• plausible Elodin Lost His Mind Trying to Open the Four-Plate Door pop 134
• plausible Why Starting With the Name of the Wind Makes Better Namers pop 129
• plausible Why Elodin Withheld His Vote on Kvothe's First Whipping pop 98
• fringe The Lackless Box Is the Unfoldable House From the Story of Jax pop 82
• plausible Felurian's Half-Cracked Doors Between Worlds Are Cracked Minds pop 81
• plausible Kvothe and Auri Unconsciously Name Things When They Describe Them pop 79
• fringe Manet Is a Hidden Amyr Guarding the University from Within pop 66
• fringe Shamble-Men Are Arcanists Wrecked by Reckless Sympathy and Binder's Chills pop 59
• plausible Caudicus Is a Red Herring: An Inept Arcanist, Not the Maer's Poisoner pop 56

Top contributors§

People on r/KingkillerChronicle who built the theories above.

• u/nosaystupidthings — 1 theory · 22 pts · extended
• u/jmanix98 — 1 theory · 8 pts · countered